->''"I keep ya weak! Comin' from the streets of the ghetto,\\At the end of the week, I get to keep your ''dinero''! \\You're fast asleep when I sneak in your ''casa''.\\Now you're bankrupt, your life sucks and I'm laughin'.\\You can't trust me, ''ese'', because I'm Latin!\\I don't care if you don't like me, everybody wanna fight me."''-->-- '''Opening of ''Can You Feel the Heat?'', known to Wrestling/{{WWE}} fans as Wrestling/EddieGuerrero's theme music'''

Members of a youth street-gang whose behavior usually involves various criminal activities, including drug dealing, killing members of other groups, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking vandalizing buildings by painting graffiti tags]]. May or may not commit rapes [[note]]despite the other meaning of banging gangs,[[/note]] as usually members of youth gangs have little trouble getting girlfriends who [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys like the excitement and danger]], some of whom are in girl gangs and killing their competitors too.

Gangbangers often fill the same role as TheMafia, but fit into a different archetype. Gangbangers are usually poor criminals, disorganized mobs who patrol ghettos, selling crack and getting into fights with rival gangs just for the hell of it, whereas Mafias are intelligent, very wealthy, diplomatic, often have connections to "legitimate" authorities, and more likely to plan assassinations and ambushes than just go around getting into fights. The two can overlap, but the distinctive dress will usually make the difference clear; Mafias wear suits, ties, sunglasses and (if period-appropriate) fedoras, while Gangbangers wear head bandanas, wifebeaters and torn jeans.

TheIrishMob can be either depicted as period-appropriate {{Gangbangers}} or as a kind of [[TheMafia Mafia]] (though don't ever call them that), depending on time period, location, and the creator's opinions. For instance, the Irish gangs (and all the other gangs, for that matter) in ''Film/GangsOfNewYork'' were the 19th-century equivalent of today's Bloods and Crips. The Irish Mob in ''Film/TheDeparted'', however, was much more Mafia-like.

Mafias will typically be composed of [[TheMafia Italians]], [[TheMafiya Russians]] ([[{{Ruritania}} or some other post-soviet Ethnic nationality]]), or occasionally [[TheTriadsAndTheTongs Chinese]] or [[{{Yakuza}} Japanese]], whereas as the Street Gang is made up of [[ScaryBlackMan Blacks]] and [[LatinLand Hispanics]], with UnfortunateImplications all around (although American producers can be forgiven, as this is often TruthInTelevision for the most infamous gangs, especially since an all white gang fitting this description would almost certainly be labeled as {{UsefulNotes/Skinheads}} or something similar instead). May occasionally overlap with [[AllBikersAreHellsAngels Biker gangs]], though they usually fall into their own category.

As a nod to the lack of precision or training, they will typically use their weapons GangstaStyle. WhiteGangbangers is what happens when the UnfortunateImplications are avoided intentionally, though often unrealistically (unless it's a white country with white gangbangers, like Russia--the Russian ones are called ''gopniki'', singular ''gopnik'', by the way).

Gangs separate themselves from each other with identifiers such as [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience different coloured clothes]] and [[TattooedCrook gang tattoos]], which in extreme cases may make them a GangOfHats. Often come from the WrongSideOfTheTracks. This is the alternative for most students in SaveOurStudents plots.

See TheYardies for the British equivalent and JapaneseDelinquents for [[CaptainObvious the Japanese version]].----!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Anime And Manga ]]

* Various gangs in ''Manga/BananaFish'', some more ethnically diverse than others. In particular, protagonist Ash runs a gang that includes white, black, and Asian members, which is noted as being unusual.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Comic Book ]]

* The Comicbook/BloodSyndicate from MilestoneComics were a NeighbourhoodFriendlyGangsters variety.* ''SinCity'' has street gangs that pop up from time to time. Considering this is FrankMiller, the street gangs are sometimes [[ThoseWackyNazis Nazis]].* The Purple Dragons were a [[BigApplesauce New York]] street gang that appeared in the [[ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesMirage Ninja Turtles comics.]] They would later appear in many of the Turtles animated series.* Since it's set in TheBigRottenApple, gang bangers feature prominently in the MarvelComics miniseries, ''ComicBook/{{NYX}}''. Protagonist Kiden Nixon's police officer father is killed in front of her by one in a drive-by shooting when she's a child. She later runs afoul of Hector, a student at her school with gang connections. A CorruptCop manning the school's metal detectors is a member of the same gang, and is bribed into letting Hector smuggle in a gun with which to try and kill her, and which really starts the main plot in motion. Bobby Soul is strongly implied to have been one in the past, though he's trying to escape that life. Lastly, this sort makes up a large majority of Zebra Daddy's gang when he sends them to collect [[ComicBook/{{X 23}} one of his runaway prostitutes]], and [[spoiler:it's revealed in the finale that [[ItsASmallWorldAfterAll Daddy himself was the gang banger who gunned down Kiden's father]]]].

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Fan Works ]]

* In ''FanFic/OriginStory'', Marvin, Louise Fulford's one-time pimp, is a member of the LA Crips. When Alex Harris beats the man down for trying to hurt Louise, Aaron Sanchez expresses worry that when Marvin's gang comes seeking vengeance, Alex might not always be around.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live Action Tv ]]

* ''HillStreetBlues'' was one of the first shows to include them as a recurring plot element, as well as one of the more rounded portrayals.* ''Series/LincolnHeights'' has a black gang and a Latino gang. There was even one episode that had a white supremacist street gang based on the Aryan Brotherhood. Most likely an honest mistake, since the Aryans are a prison gang, not a street gang, and the fact that no white surpremacist gang would EVER set up operations in a black and Latino neighborhood.* Half the cast of ''TheWire''.** Subverted in that the gangs on ''TheWire'' are highly organized (even the lower-level guys are shown to be at least competent, if not intelligent), moderately disciplined, innovative, and tend to be run either by Machiavellian businessmen taking college courses in macroeconomics (Stringer Bell) or ruthless, power-hungry sociopaths (Marlo Stanfield). [[TruthInTelevision Oh, and they have white gangbangers shown in Season 2]], much to the disgust of the Polish community and Nick Sobotka in particular.* Similarly for ''Series/TheShield''.* The History Channel has a semi-documentary series called ''Gangland'' devoted to [=Gangbangers=]. * Seriously common in ''Series/{{Southland}}''.* In the ''Series/TheWalkingDead'' episode "Vatos", at first the trope seems to be being played straight, but it turns out that [[spoiler:they're really just acting that way to protect an old folks home whose residents were abandoned by the staff when the zombie apocalypse hit]].* The One-Niners in ''Series/SonsOfAnarchy'', a series centering around a California based Outlaw Motorcycle Club.* In Season 11 of ''Series/{{Degrassi}}'' Drew [[spoiler: kills]] one who was attempting to rape Bianca, leading to the gang pursuing him.* ''Series/{{CSI NY}}'' had the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucchese_crime_family#Family_crews Tanglewood Boys]] on two occasions. They're the sons of mafia members and still rather connected to it, but tend more toward typical gangbanger tendancies themselves. Based on a real group, though they're now pretty much defunct.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Fan Works ]]

* In '"FanFic/OriginStory'', Marvin, Louise's one-time pimp, is a member of the Crips. Alex is really not impressed or afraid of that at all.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Film ]]

* This is the point in films like ''Film/MenaceIISociety'' and ''Film/BoyzNTheHood''.* ''Film/TheWarriors'', of course.* ''Film/{{Colors}}'', as well.* Subverted by ''AmericanGangster''. Frank Lucas' gang is well-organized, reasonably disciplined, innovative, and entirely made up of African-Americans.** It's actually a minor plot point that a law enforcement agent giving Richie a hard time didn't buy his story because he refused to believe that a black organization could outperform the Italian mafia. [[KickTheDog He then called Richie a kike]].* Mr.Nice Guy, starring Creator/JackieChan, had a posse of gang bangers called the 'Demons' that run afoul of Jackie and the Mafia, getting their asses kicked by the first, and then ground up by the latter over a dispute of some stolen merchandise.* Subverted with CMB from ''Film/NewJackCity'' as well.* ''Film/SinCity'': Even has a gang of hookers.* ''Film/TheWar'': The're too young to be a true gang but the kids are on the threshold where they will become gangs if something doesn't change.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Professional Wrestling ]]

* The {{spicy latin|a}}o? It is seemingly becoming a forgotten trope in the continental United States. The MaskedLuchador, those have been on the decline since the [[Wrestling/{{WCW}} largest company in the country]] set out to unmask them all. ''This'' is/was the most common gimmick of 2000-2010+, going through at least one angle with heavy overtones of gangsterism seems to be a right of passage among Latin Americans who work in USA. As the page quote shows, not even Latino Heat was immune.** Not Wrestling/ReyMysterioJr. either, as he was part of the No Limit Soldiers** Wrestling/{{Konnan}}, easily the most gangster member of The Three Live Krew and later of the Latin American Exchange.** Lil' Cholo, a long time attractive in the Californian circuit. His ring name is practically a shorthand for "gang banger", [[NWordPrivileges if a politically incorrect one]], in case you didn't notice.** The entire Mexican American Stable (Super Mex Shawn Hernandez, Sarita, Rosita, Anarquia) had this vibe but had Nazi esque ambitions. ** Former Mistico/Sin Cara Negro Wrestling/{{Hunico}} and Kamacho. They even briefly brought in Primo and Epico.** Wrestling/CarlitoColon, for a brief period where he stole John Cena's chain and hired street thug Jesus Anguilera to stab him in a bar fight.** The Puerto Rican princess Amber Rodriguez became the "[[InsistentTerminology The Boricua Princess]]", a box cutter concealing pickpocket in the Wrestling/{{N|ational Wrestling Alliance}}WA.** Grizzled Youth went from a cool guy with an afro to a Puerto Rican gangster...[[TropesAreNotBad which was still a step up]] from being a {{jobber}} {{surfer dude}}** Homicide of FIP, Ring of Honor and Rottweiler fame* Lynx and El Niche, Los Fugitivos de la Calle, were examples of this long before they came to Future Of Wrestling in the continental US though.* Likewise "El Illegal" Chicano had been at it long before he showed up in the 50 states at Wrestling/RingOfHonor.* The Gangstas Wrestling/NewJack and Mustafa. [[Wrestling/DLoBrown D'Lo Brown]] came later. Their gimmick being gang bangers who took to professional wrestling after they ran out of opponents to beat on the street, namely someone told them to go try and beat up Wrestling/TheRockNRollExpress.* The WWE version of the FBI Full Blooded Italians, Chuck Palumbo in particular.* The [[Wrestling/NewWorldOrder nWo,]] while not always described in such terms, always carried themselves in this manner. The group consisted of a leader (Hollywood Hogan) who leads through use of charisma, promise of rewards and fear instilled by way of a few fanatically loyal enforcers. (The Outsiders, [[Wrestling/ScottHall Hall]] and [[Wrestling/KevinNash Nash]]) Its members wore colors and uniforms that held significance and were always identified with them. (Black and white) Its members were beaten if they failed (Buff Bagwell) or sometimes just as a hypothetical example. (Brutus Beefcake) In general, they celebrated a criminal lifestyle; to wit theft, vandalism, general destruction of property and assault, and would generally be seen as a corrupting influence on the industry as a whole.* There were also many derivative and imitations of the nWo, the latino World order being one of the earliest.* NWA World Tag Team Champions, AJ Steele and Murder-1, better known as "The Usual Suspects".* Kevin Steen of Wrestling/ProWrestlingGuerilla's "[[PowerStable Mount Rushmore]]" wrote ACH off as a "hoodlum".* The Premier Athlete Brand of Evolve and Wrestling/DragonGate USA accused AR Fox of being an example of this trope and were greatly dismayed that he was teaming with their desired prospect, Uhaa Nation.* The first thing we see of Los Rabiosos in the World Wrestling League? Their masked faces on a wanted poster. Granted, it was from seven years ago and they were much more politically minded than most examples. Mr. Big and Noel Rodríguez seemed to have had ''mostly'' moved past it, Dennis Rivera, not so much.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* CJ and his crew, as well as most of the early antagonists in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas''. Grove Street Families is loosely based on Lime Street Pirus (a bloods offshoot that wore green), Ballaz is based on Grape Street Watts Crips (a off shoot of the crips that wore purple), Vagos on 18th Street Gang.** Liberty City in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV'' is occupied by a few street gangs along with larger, better-organized groups.** The Red Jacks and Purple Nines in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIII''. Who, though being stand-ins for the Bloods and Crips, happily walked around side by side and attacked the player if he attacked one of the other gang.** Franklin from ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' grew up in this type of enviroment and as such is trying to not only escape from this type of lifestyle but also convince some of his gangbanger buddies to do the same with little to no luck...* The gangs of lower Taris in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.** One was more focused on honor and gang loyalty than usual for the trope, the other was mostly a bunch of berserkers with little other ambition. Older members of the second gang will tell the player they used to be more like the first until a recent leadership change.* Summon your own! Masterminds in ''[[CityOfHeroes City of Villains]]'' can choose to major in Thugs, which gives the PlayerCharacter the ability to command multiethnic [=Gangbangers=] in combat.** Not to mention the wide variety of differently-themed NPC street gangs like [[HollywoodSatanism the Hellions]], [[CastingAShadow the Skulls]], [[ElementalPowers the Outcasts]], [[OurTrollsAreDifferent the Trolls]], [[TheTriadsAndTheTongs the Tsoo]], [[AncientGrome the Warriors]], and [[CyberPunk the Freakshow]].* The Outer Estrana gangs in ''Videogame/TheWay''.* The whole web game ''Videogame/UrbanRivals'' is about gang wars, but the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Bangers clan]] fits most of the [=Gangbangers=] tropes.* ''SaintsRow'' is a game where you actually become a Gang Banger.** [[VideoGame/SaintsRow The first game]] features a four way [[MobWar gang war]] between the protagonist Third Street Saints, the car enthusiast Westside Rollerz, the [[TheCartel Columbian backed]] Los Carnales and the Vice Kings, who run the gambling, prostitution and pornography rings.** ''VideoGame/SaintsRow2'' has the Third Street Saints trying to reclaim the city from three new gangs. The Brotherhood loves tattoos and monster trucks, the Sons of Samedi are run by a Haitian voodoo priest who deals in [[FantasticDrug Loa Dust]] and the Ronin are a {{Yakuza}} inspired gang that ride motorcycles and wield katanas.** In ''SaintsRowTheThird'' the Third Street Saints move to a new city run by a group called TheSyndicate, which itself is composed of three groups that act like street gangs. Morning Star acts like TheMafia, the Deckers are hackers who dress like they're from {{Tron}} and the Luchadores are, well, you can probably [[MaskedLuchador guess.]]* The Manhattan subways of ''VideoGame/DeusEx'' are ruled by a gang called the Rooks.** ''[[VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution Human Revolution]]'' shows two rival Detroit gangs, the Motor City Bangers and the Derelect Row Ballers; as well as the [[UsefulNotes/{{Shanghai}} Hengsha]] based Harvesters.* The Water Street Boys gang and the Jade Gang in ''VideoGame/SleepingDogs'' are two such rival gangs within the [[TheTriadsAndTheTongs Sun On Yee]], although the Water Street Boys are more "purely" so.* The plot of ''VideoGame/MaxPayne 3'' is kicked off by favela thugs trying to kidnap Max's principal. They come back for seconds and Max keeps clashing with them, though they eventually get superseded by better-equipped foes.* The Kings in ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' could count as one of these, as well as any of the raider groups.* In ''Franchise/MassEffect'', a Commander Shepard with the Earthborn background managed to get out of this life. His/her gang was apparently called the Tenth Street Reds, and at one point in [[VideoGame/MassEffect1 the first game]] his/her old gang leader Finch will try to blackmail Shepard into using his/her Spectre status to get another member, charged with hate crimes, out of a turian jail.* The ''VideoGame/{{STALKER}}'' series has bandits whose modus operandi has them act typically this way, though there are no instances and/or implications of raping in the games. Since the games take place in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, these bandits are ''gopniki'' and have loose ties with TheMafiya. They do have charismatic leaders who act like stereotypical ''avtoritets'', making them a rather moderately organized quasi-Mafiya outfit.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'': The Story of Gangstalicious* ''WesternAnimation/StaticShock'' made pretty extensive use of this trope, especially early on.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Original ]]

* In ''Roleplay/TheGamersAlliance'', the Nightstalkers are a gang of young thugs with big plans for rising up in the Maar Sulais criminal hierarchy.* [[WebOriginal/AcademyOfSuperheroes ASH]]: there are lots and lots of these, some with [[GangOfHats themes]] like "all-cyborg" or "voodoo-esque powers". Pretty much all of them have exclusively paranormal membership. Hard to compete with people who can shoot lightning and throw cars when you can't.